Coal-mining machine



S N. MIGHELL.

COAL MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10.1916.

Patented July 20, 1920.

H llllllll gZeZZ,

S. N. MIGHELL.

COAL MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10,1916.

Patented July 20, 1920.

4 SHEEISSHEET 2.

S. N. MIGHELL.

COAL MINlNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED Jun 10.1916.

1,346,966. Patented July 20, 1920.

4 SHEEISSHEEI 3.

S. N. MIGHELL.

COAL MINING MACHINE.

SEWARD N. MIGI-IELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COAIi-MINING MACHINE.

'Application filed July 10, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SnwAnD N. MIoHnLL, a citizen of the United States,residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of lllinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Coal-Mining Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of mining machines which areadapted to be used for mining coal or other material.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, economicaland eflicient mining machine adapted to be used for cutting or miningcoal or similar material, and adapted to be moved with facility todifferent positions with respect to the material to be operated upon.

(lther and further objects of the invention will appear from thefollowing description, and from an inspection of the accompanyingdrawings which are made a part hereof.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a plan view of a mining machineconstructed in accordance with my invention and improvements, with aportion of the cutter bar or cutting chain supporting arm broken away,and with the cutting chain omitted;

2, a detail plan. view of the outer portion of the cutter bar or cuttingchai supporting arm, with a portion of the cutting chain in operativeposition thereon;

F 3, a view in central transverse vertical section, taken on line 3 ofFig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig 4, a view in vertical section taken on line etof Fig. 1 looking inthe direction of the-arrow, and showing the main frame and mechanism onthe main frame in elevation, with the cutting chain mechanism omittedand the outer portion of the cutter bar broken away 5, a view in frontelevation of the machine shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 41-, showing the meansfor supporting the main frame and one extremity of the main feed screwor wor.mthe means for supporting the op )osite extremity of the mainfeed screw being of identical construction and therefore omitted fromsaid view;

Fig. 6, an enlarged detail view taken on line 6 of Fig. 1, looking inthe direction of the arrow, and showing the pawl and ratchet mechanismfor operating the rotative screw Specification of Letters Patent.

looking in the direction of Patented July 20, 1920. Serial No. 108,351.

or worm for moving the cutter bar upon its pivot or vertical axis;

F ig. 7, an enlarged detail view in transverse horizontal section takenon line 7 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrow, and showingthe rotative crank disk or head and adjustable wrist pin for operatingthe pawl and ratchet mechanism shown in Fig. 6 to move the cutter armupon its pivot or axis;

Fig. 8, a view in end elevation of the end portion of the bottom frameor track as it would appear when seen from line 8 of Fig. 5, looking inthe direction of the arrow;

Fig. 9, an enlarged detail view in vertical longitudinal section, takenon line 9 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow, and showingthe main hollow feed screw and its support, and the means foroperatively connecting said feed screw with the main frame; one of thesafety plates being shown in a broken condition, in broken lines;

Fig. 10, an enlarged view in h'mgitiwlinal vertical section, taken online 10 of Fig. 2, the arrow, and showing the construction of the outerend portion of the cutter arm;

11, an enlarged transverse detail view in vertical section taken on line11 of Fig. 2, looking in the showing the cutter arm with the cuttingchain mechanism in operative position thereon;

Fig. 12, a detail view in elevation of a portion of acutting chain, withthe cutting bits removed; and

Fig. 13, an enlarged detail view in transverse vertical section throughthe cutter arm, taken on line 13 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction ofthe arrow.

In constructing a mining machine in ac cordance with my invention andimprovements I provide a bottom frame or track 1 having horizontallateral bottom frame portions 2, 2, and an upright track portion 3,extending beneath an upper movable main frame 4:, to be supportedthereby. The bottom frame or track is formed by preference of a pair ofangle irons laid side by side and connected so that the horizontalflange portions 2 extend laterally in opposite directions from thecentral connected vertical track portions 3, the main frame 4 beingsupported upon and movable longitudinally direction of the arrow, and

with respect to the track or bottom frame thus provided. A hollownon-rotative main feed-screw or worm 5, is mounted in parallel relationto the longitudinal track portion 3 and supported by the bottom frame ofwhich the track portion 3 forms a part. The main feed-screw 5 is, bypreference, connected with and secured in operative position upon thebottom frame 1 in such a manner that when the feed-screw is subjected toexcessive stresses and strains when the machine is in operation, thefeed-screw will be released or permitted to rotate so as to preventinjury to the parts, but will be held non-rotatably when the machine isin operation under normal conditions or when such excessive stresses andstrains as would endanger'or permit injury to the mechanism are absent.

A very satisfactory and efficient means for securing the main feed-screwin position is shown in the drawings in which upright end frame members6, each by preference ofsubstantially identical construction, are firmlyand rigidly secured to opposite ends of the bottom frame or track 1,said end frame members each being provided with an opening 7 in which ismounted a flanged collar 8, into which the corresponding end of the mainfeed screw extends. Each collar 8 hasv an outer flange portion Qadaptedto engage the outside of the corresponding end frame member 6, and asleeve or bushing 10 is interposed between the ring or collar 8' and theend of the main feed-screw which is encircled by such bushing. A. cap orwasher 11 is mounted on the outside of each of the collars 8respectively and endwise beyond the adjacent end of the main feed-screw.

7 Each of the caps 11 has an opening therethrough, and a connecting rod12 extends longitudinally through the hollow main feed-screw and throughthe openings in the caps or washers 11' at the opposite ends of the rodand feed-screws, and threaded nuts 13 are mounted in threaded engagementwith the opposite ends of the rod 12, and each in engagement with theouter surface of the corresponding cap or washer 11. An

inner collar or securing ring 14 encircles and is secured in fixedrelation to the main feed-screw 5 by means of a'key 15 and set screw 16,or other suitable securing means, and a washer or annular frictionmember 17 is interposed between the collar 14 and the adjacent framemember 6, as indicated 'in Fig. 9. I prefer to mount a collar 14 and aring or washer 17 uponand in fixed relation i to each of the ends of thefeed-screw 5,

respectively, rather than at one end only.

The connection between the main feed-screw and its supports may thus betightened or loosened at either'end of the feed-screw as the machine canbe stopped. 7

Thestrains would be transmitted from the metal of sufficient strength toenable the feed-screws to be held non-rotatably during the operation ofthe machine under normal conditions, but sufiiciently weak or brittle toenable the washer or washers 11 to be broken so as to release and permitthe rotation of the main feed-screw whenever it is subjected toexcessive stresses and strains. It is obvious that the collars 14; areadapted to be drawn tightly into! engagement with the washer 17 and theend frame member 6 by rotating the corresponding nut 13 in onedirection, and may be loosened partially or to any desired extent byrotating such nut in an opposite direction, thus enabling the collar orcollars 14 to rotate with the screw 5 whenever the latter is subjectedto excessive stresses and strains. Each collar 14 is provided withperipheral notches 18 adapted to be engaged by a spannerwrench,

the normally fixed feed screw 5-such as are liable to occur when thecutter strikes an unusual obstruction-.will tend to rotate said normallystationary feed screw as well as the collars 14 and 8 and safety plates11 at the opposite ends of the feed screw, and that, when such strainsare sufiiciently great to cause the actual rotation or endwise movementof the feed screw, and the rotation of the collars 14: and 8, one orboth of the safety plates 11 will thus be twisted or bent and distortedand broken, thus releasing the collars 14 and 8 and the feed screw, andpermitting the latter to rotate with its engaged nut members 76 and 82,without injury 'to the machine, until the operation of (See Fig. 9.)

nutmembers or nuts'TtSv and 82 to the feed screw and the collars Hand 8-and the plate or platesv 11.

The upper or main frame 4 maybe of any desired construction suitable forsupporting the mechanism tobe mounted thereon, and for enabling suchframe and the mechanism supported thereby to be moved longitudinally ofthe track 3 or bottom frame 1, when the latter is stationary, and

for permitting the track or bottom frame 1 to be moved with facility toany desired position with respect to the main frame 4. The main frame 4,when constructed as shown in the drawings, comprises a bottom frameportion 19, upright and frame.members 20 and 21, having horizontaloutwardly projecting flanges 22, 22, a front frame member or plate 23, arear frame member or upright frame member 24 and a top plate or framemember 25. (See Figs. 1, 3 and 5.)

A suitable source of power, such for i11- stance as an electric motor26, which may be of any desired, ordinary and well known or suitableform, is mounted upon the main frame 4, to which such motor is securedin a suitable manner, for instance, by means of bolts 27, which extendthrough suitable openings 28 in the flanges 22 of the upright end framemembers and 21 respectively, and into the adjacent bottom portion 29 ofthe casing or frame of the motor. (See Figs. 1 and 5.) i

The top plate is also provided with openings 30 adapted to receivesecuring bolts to be anchored in the frame portion 29 of the motor forsecuring the latter in position on the main frame. Anti-friction flangedguiding-rollers 31 are rotatively mounted in the main frame 4 with theirvertical axles 32 journaled in suitable bearings in the front dependingframe portion 33. (See Figs. 3 and 5.) These flanged antifrietionrollers engage the side edge of a horizontal guiding or track member 34,which is secured to and projects outward forward or laterally withrespect to the upright track portion 3, already described. (See Figs. 3and 5.) Upper anti-friction rollers 35 are mounted upon horizontal studsor pins 36, and lower antifriction rollers 37 are mounted upon similarhorizontal supporting studs 38, the upper rollers 35 being in engagementwith the top face, and the lower rollers 37 being in engagement with thebottom face of the horizontal guiding track member 34, alreadydescribed, and said studs 36 and 38 being anchored in the dependingframe portion 33, already described. (See Figs. 4 and 5.)

A main driving shaft 39 is rotatively mounted in suitable bearings 40,41., in the main frame and, by preference, in parallel relation to thepower shaft 42 of the motor. This main driving shaft 39 is operativelyconnected with the source of power by means of which it is to be driven,as follows: A gear 43 is mounted upon and adapted to rotate with themain-driving shaft .39 to which said gear wheel is secured by means of akey 44; and a spur gear wheel 45 is mounted upon and adapted to retatewith the motor or power shaft 42 to which said gear 45 is secured bymeans of a spline 46, in such a manner as to permit the gear 45 to bemoved longitudinally of the motor shaft into and out of toothedengagement with the gear wheel 43. An inner spur gear wheel 47 is fixedto the main drive shaft 39, and a spur gear wheel 48 is 'mounted inposition to encircle the power shaft 42 and is connected wtih and infixed relation to the spur gear wheel 45 by means of a sleeve 49, saidgear wheels 48 and 45 being spaced apart a suificient distance to permitan intermediate speed changing and reversing pinion or gear wheel 50which is rotatively mounted on a stub shaft 51 and in toothed engagementwith the gear wheel 47, to extend between and out of engagement withsaid gears 48 and 45 when the latter is in engagement with gear wheel43, and to permit gear wheels 48 and 50 to be engaged when the gearwheel 45 is moved out of engagement with the gear wheel 4. The directionof rotation of the main drive shaft 39 with respect to the power shaft42 may thus be changed by shifting the connected gears 48 and 45 in therequired direction longitudinally of the power shaft. (See Fig. The maindriving shaft 39 is also provided with a sprocket wheel 5:) adapted beoperatively connected with a truck or vehicle (not shown) for conveyingthe machine as a whole from place to place when desired. A worm 53 isfixed to the rotative main driving shaft 39, and an intermediate orcountershaft 54 is mounted in suitable hearings in the main frame and atright angles with respect to the main driving shaft, and provided with aworm wheel 55 fixed to said counter-shaft and in toothed engagement withthe worm A plurality of spur gear wheels 56 and 57 are mounted upon andadapted to be operatively connected with and from the counter-shaft,each of said gear wheels being provided with a clutch member 58 fixedthereto. A pair of clutch members 59 are mounted upon and movablelongitudinally of the counter-shaft 54 into and out of engagement withthe clutch member-s58 respectively, said clutch members 59 beingoperatively connected with the counter-shaft by means of splines 60 insuch a manner as to cause the clutch members 59 to rotate with, but tobe movable longitudinally of the counter-shaft, as suggested.

'Suitable means is provided for operating the clutch members 59, andcomprises in its construction a reciprocating clutch operating member61, having yoked portions 62 in engagement with peripherally slottedportions 63 of the clutch members 59, respectively, said reciprocatingmember 61 being provided with end-wise projecting arm portions 64 and65, slidably mounted in bearings 66 and 67, respectively, and extendingin parallel relation to the shaft 54, already described. Theseprojecting arm portions 64 and are thus adapted to support and permitthe reciprocation of the clutch operating member 61, and the clutchoperating lever 68 is operatively connected with one of said arm membersby means of a pivot pin 69,

disconnected non-rotative feed-screw 5 is a pair of spur gear wheels 71and 7 2, which are, by preference, connected in fixed relation to each Iother by means of a sleeve 73, one end of which is rigidly connectedwith the gear 71 10 by means of screws 74, and the other end of which isconnected with the gear wheel 72 by means of screws 7 5, or othersuitable securing means. The gear wheel member 71 is in toothedengagement with the gear wheel member 56, already described,

and has an inner threaded portion 7 6 encircling and in threadedengagement with the non-rotative main feed-screw 51 An end-wiseprojecting sleeve or hub portion '77 of the gear wheel member 71, isrotatively supported in the end frame member 20, already described, andis provided with a metallic bushing 78 adapted to-form a suitablesupport for the sleeve or journal portion 7 7 which is encircled by suchbushing, and a thrust bearing, preferably in the form of a pair ofmetallic rings, 7 9 and 80, having a series of hardened steel balls 81-mounted in annular grooves in said rings, is interposed between theframe member 20 and the adj a cent )ortion of the ear wheel 71. The earwheel 72, already described, is provided with e an endwlse pro ectlnginwardly threaded nut portion 82 in threaded engagement with 3 the mainfeed screw 5, and rotatively mount- 'ed in a suitable metallic bushing83 in'the end frame member 21, and a thrust hearing 84, by preference,of substantially the same construction as the thrust bearing last 40above described, is interposed between the end frame member 21 and theadjacent end portion of the gear wheel member 7 2. An intermediate idlergear wheel member 85 is rotatively mounted on a suitable support 5 suchas a non-rotative stub shaft 86 and in toothed engagement with the gearwheel member 72 and with the gear wheel members 57, respectively. Thestub shaft 86 is supported by the end frame member 21. (See 0 Fig. 1).The gear wheel member 71, with its inner threaded portion, and the gearwheel member '72, with its inner threaded portion, each form a gearwheel and an inwardly threaded nut in threaded engagement with thenon-rotative main feed-screw 5, adapted to cause the main frame 1,already described, to be moved in one direction longitudinally of themain feed-screw and the track, when said combined gear wheel and nutmembers are rotated in one direction, and to cause said main frame 4 tobe moved in the opposite direction longitudinally with respect to saidmain feed-screw and track when the connected gear wheel and nut members71 and 72 are rotated in 59, 59 are operatively connected with andadapted to be operated by the hand lever 68, as already suggested. Itshould also be noted that the projecting end portions 64 and 65 of thereciprocating clutch operating mechanism are each adapted to, engage astop 87 at the adjacent end of the bottom frame or track 1, when themain frame has been moved to the extreme limit of its path of movementin either direction longitudinally of the main screw-feed 5 and bottomframe or track 1, there being a stop 87 at each end of the bottom frame1, respectively. It is obvious that when either (See Fig. of the endwiseprojecting portions 6 1 and 65, respectively, comes in contact with thestop 87, the clutch mechanism, including clutch members 59 and 59' willbe operated, and released and the movement of the main frame 1 stoppedautomatically.

A cutter bar or cutting chain supporting arm 88 is pivotally mountedupon the main frame 4: and comprises in its construction a main bodyportion 89, having vertical side flange portions 90 to whichlongitudinally slotted lateral chain supporting and guiding members 91are secured by means'of bolts 92 and nuts 93, or similar securing means,the

inner extremity of the central main body portion 89 being adjustablyconnected with and supported .by an inner h'ub' portion 94, which ispivotally mounted upon and encircles an upright hollow pivot or verticalaxle 95, which is fixed to the bottom of the main frame portion 19, andprojects upward therefrom. (See Figs. 1, 2, 3, 10, 11 and 13.) Anannular collar 96 is 'rigidlysecured in fixed relation to the hollowpivot or axle 95,

and projects outward horizontally beyond the periphery of said axle andin supporting engagement with the hub portion 94: of the cutter bar. Thehub portion 94 is provided with a projecting arm or shank 97, which isby preference forked at its outer extremity, as indicated in Figs. 3 and13, and the main body portion 89 of the cutter bar is provided withelongated slots 98 through which extend headed bolts or pins 99, whichare anchored in the arm portions of the shank 97 and secured in positionby means of nuts 100, as shown in Figs. 1 and 13. A horizontal adjustingscrew 101, is fixed to the central portion of the shank 97 in'positionto extend longitudinally with respect to the central portion of the maincutter bar 88, and through an upright transverse stud 102 on the mainbody portion 89 of the cutter bar; and adjusting nuts 103 and 104 aremounted upon and in threaded engagement with the non-rotative screw 101,and on opposite sides of the stud 102. (See Figs. 1, 3 and 13.) The maincentral body portion 89 of the cutter bar is also provided withelongated slots 105, through which extend vertical headed bolts 106,which are anchored in the outer extremity 107 of the shank 97, andsecured to said shank by means of nuts 108. (See Figs. 1 and 3.) Theouter'extremity of the main body portion 89 is provided with a slottedtop plate 109 and a slotted bottom plate 110 secured thereto by means ofbolts or screws 111, and adapted to provide a bayonet slot 112 betweensaid top and bottom plates, which slot is curved and communicates with,and forms a continuation of, and a curved connection between bayonetslots 113 in the channel members 91, already described. A cutting chain114, comprising a multiplicity of pivotally connecting links 115 and116, having side guiding flange portions 117, adapted to be securelyheld in sliding engagement with the bayonet slot portions 112 and 113,is slidably mounted in said slotted portions of the cutter bar and inoperative engagement with the sprocket teeth 118 of a spi'ocketwlieel119 which is fixed to the lower extremity of a vertical rotativechainoperating shaft 120 by means of a key 121, or other suitablesecuring means. (See Figs. 2, and 11.) The main body portion 89 of thecutter bar is thus adapted to be adjusted to different positionslongitudinally with respect to the shank 97 by turning the adjustingnuts 103 and 104 in the required direction for tightening or looseningthe cutter chain. The vertical shaft 120 to which the sprocket 119 is secured extends upward from said sprocket through the axial center of thehollow axle or pivot 95, and is provided at its upper end with a beveledpinion or gear wheel 122 fixed to the upper extremity of said shaft bymeans of a key 123, and in toothed engagement with a beveled pinion 124which is mounted upon and adapted to be connected with, and disconnectedfrom operative engagement with the main driving shaft 39. The beveledpinion 124 has a clutch member 125 upon and in fixed relation thereto,and a movable clutch member 126 is mounted upon and so connected withthe main driving shaft 39 by means of a spline 127 as to cause saidclutch member to constantly rotate with said main driving shaft when thelatter is. in operation, and to permit said clutch member 126 to bemoved into and out of clutching engagement with the beveled pinion 124and the clutch member 125 on said pinion. A plate 128 is mounted inposition to form a that the chain may thus be suitable support orbearing for the beveled gear wheel 122, and a hollow metallic bushing129 is interposed between the inner wall of the hollow axle 95 and theshaft 120, and encircles and forms a suitable bearing for said shaft. Aworm wheel 130 is secured in fixed relation to the hub member 94 bymeans of a key 131 or similar securing means, and a shaft 132 isrotatively mounted in suitable bearings in the main frame adjacent toand in parallel relation to the counter-shaft 54, and provided with aworm 133 in toothed engagement with said worm wheel130 on the hub member94 of the cutter bar. The worm 133 is secured in fixed relation to therotative worm supporting shaft 132 by means of a key 134, or similarsecuring means. (See Fig. From the foregoing description it will bereadily understood that when the main driving shaft 39 is operativelyconnected with the vertical chain-driving shaft 120 by operativelyconnecting the gear 124 with the main driving shaft by means of theclutch members 125 and 126, the rotation of the main driving shaft willoperate the cutting chain which is provided with a series of cuttingbits 135 removably mounted in the sockets 136 and secured in position bymeans of set screws 137 so as to project outward at the desired anglefor cutting coal or other material to be operated upon. It is alsoapparent that such operation of the chain will be accomplished, nomatter in what position the cutter bar may be with respect to the mainframe of the machine, or at what angle the cutter bar may extend withrespect to the main feedscrew 5 and bottom frame or track 1. It is alsoobvious that the cutter bar is adapted to be partially rotated upon itsaxis or vertical pivot either while the cutting chain is thus beingdriven, or while the main driving shaft 39 is disconnected from thebeveled gear wheel 124, and thus not operatively connected with thechain driving shaft 120. It is also obvious driven by the rotation ofthe main driving shaft either while the cutter bar is in fixed relationto the pivot or vertical axle 95, or While said cutter bar is beingswung about its pivot, as desired.

lVith the clutch members 59 and 59' in the positions shown in Fig. 1,and the gear members 57, 85 and 72 operatively connected with the maindrive shaft by means of the clutch member 59 it is obvious that themovement of the main frame toward the right in said figure will causethe projecting end of the clutch-operating member 61 to come intocontact with the stop 87 at the right side of said figure, therebycausing the clutch member 59 to be disconnected or thrown out ofclutching position. The clutch member 59 is thus in position to bereadily thrown into clutching engagement with he u ch member 58 so as tooperate gears 56 and 71, thereby reversing the direction of rotation ofthe gear 71 and the connected nuts or nut members comprising gears 71and 72 and threaded nut members 76 and 82, thereby reversing thedirection of movement of the main frame. The continuation of themovement toward the right of Fig. 1 will, of course, cause theprojecting end portion 64 of the clutch-operating member 61 to engagethe corresponding stop 87 at the left extremity of the track, and thusagain automatically stop the movement of the main frame which carriesthe pivoted cutter bar and cutting chain mechanism. 1

In order to provide suitable and efficient means for moving the cutterbar upon' its pivot or axis to different adjusted positions at differentangles with respect to the main frame of the machine and with respect tothe main feed-screw and bottom frame or track member 1, and for rotatingthe cutter bar upon its pivot preparatory to or during the operation ofcutting coal, or other materlal to be operated upon, and in order toenable the speed of rotation, or rotary movement, of the cutter bar tobe regulated and increased or diminished with respect to the speed ofmovement of the cutting chain, the chain operating mechanism and themovement of the main frame as it is caused to travel longitudinally ofthe main feed-screw and bottom frame or track, and in order toprovidemeans for changing the direction of movement of the cutter barupon its pivot with facility and in a simple and efficient manner, theworm supporting shaft 132 above described, is provided with a toothedratchet wheel 138 fixed thereto, said ratchet wheel having'teeth 139adapted to enable the shaft and the worm 133 thereon to be rotated inopposite directions alternately as desired A reciprocating oroscillating lever 140 is pivotally mounted upon the shaft 132 adjacentto the ratchet wheel 138, and provided with a spring-pressed pawl orsliding bolt 141 mounted upon said lever and adapted to operativelyengage the teeth 139 of the ratchet wheel. 138. The pawl or sliding bolt141 is slidably mounted in a socket or aperture 142 in the reciprocatinglever member 140, and is provided with a compression spring 143 mountedin the socket and in engagement with an enlarged shoulder portion 144 ofthe pawl member,

and adapted to yieldingly hold the ratchet engaging end 145 of the pawlin engagement with the teeth of said ratchet wheel. The ratchet engagingend of the pawl 141 has an obliqueend surface portion 146 on one side,adapted to permit the pawl member to pass from one to the other of theratchet teeth successively in one direction of move-- ment of the pawl,and the opposite side of the pawl from said inclined surface portion isof such form as to extend into operative engagement w1th a substantiallyradial surface portion of an adjacent ratchet tooth,

ratchet wheel in the desired direction, as the operating lever 140 isreciprocated. The pawl 141 is provided with a laterally prejecting pin147 adapted to extend into a transverse slot 148 in the socket portion149 of the lever member 140, and a thumb nut or handle 150 is mountedupon the outer end of the pawl member 141 and adapted to enable thelatter to be turned one half of a complete revolution from the positionin which it is shown in Fig. 6, or to inverted position, so as to causethe ratchet wheel 138 and the worm supporting shaft 132 to be rotated inan opposite direction, when desired, and without changing the characterof the movement of the operating lever 140, or the mode of operation ofthe crank and link mechanism by means of which such lever isreciprocated. In order to reverse the position of the pawl member 141,as indicated, it is only necessary to move it outward against thetension of the spring until the pin 147 is outside of the slot 148 andthen turn the pawl or sliding bolt to the desired position correspondingwith the desired direction of rotation of the ratchet wheel. By simplyturning the pawl one-fourth of a complete revolution from that in whichit is shown in Fig. 6, and permitting the pin 147 to enter therelatively shallow slot 151 the pawl will be kept out of engagement withthe ratchet wheel, and the lever 140 and pawl may be reciprocatedwithout rotating the shaft 132 or causing the rotation or movement ofthe cutter bar upon its axis.

A crank disk 152 is fixed to the end of the shaft 54 already described,and is provided with a transverse bayonet slot 153, having flanged wallportions 154 between which extends a crank pin 155 'having'an enlargedor headed portion 156 located on the inside of the slot and adapted tobe securely held in any desired adjusted position in the slot. (SeeFigs. 1, 4 and 7.) The connecting link 156, which is curved so as toprevent it from coming into contact with the screw 5 or any part ofthe-machine which would interfere with its operation, is connected atone end with the crank pin or wrist pin 155 by means of a nut 157 on.said wrist pin, and at its opposite end with the lever 140 by means of apivot pin 158. i

I provide one or any suitable number of jacks 159 adapted to hold thetrack member firmly in stationary position during the norsition whilethe track member is being either a moved with respect to the main framefrom one position to another preparatory to being again secured instationary position suitable for enabling the mining or cuttingoperations of the machine to be begun or continued.

The jack 159 shown in the drawings comprises in its construction a screwor helically threaded main body portion 160 which is seated, bypreference removably and loosely, in a socket member 170 provided with alower shank portion adapted to be pivotally connected with a link orclevis member 170 having forked arm portions 171 adapted to be removablysecured to a suitable frame portion of the machine, such, for instance,as a channel member 173 located at either end of the track member, bymeans of a pivot pin 174. A pivot pin 172 which extends at right anglesto the pivot pin 174 forms a pivotal connection between the socketmember 170 and the link member 170. The screw is thus adapted to beswung to any desired angular position with respect to the machine, asrequired. A hand wheel 175 having a screw threaded axial perforationtherein is mounted upon and in threaded ei'igagement with the screw; andthe screw extends into the openbottom end of a pipe or tube 176 whichmay be of any desired suit able length for engaging a ceiling, wall, orother abutment. A suitable brace'is thus provided adapted to be mountedin engagement with any desired suitable part of the machine, for holdingthe same in stationary position. The bottom end of the pipe 176 isadapted to engage the outer end face of the hub of the wheel 175. Thejack is thus adapted to be removably secured in position to engage lug177 at either end of the track or a boss 178 on the frame.

A mining machine constructed as above described is adapted to be used incutting entries, as well as in the making of an initial or sumping cut,and in making the main cut'in the operation of mining coal or othermaterial, or in undercutting.

In operation, in making a main cut, for instance, the main track orbottom frame 1 is firmly secured in stationary position by means ofjacks, such as the jack 159 above described. In case the cutting is tobe begun in a corner of a room and to be continued along the face orfrom oneextremity to the other of a face of greater length than can becut without changing the position of the main track member to completethe cut, the main track member is secured in stationary position inapproximately parallel relation to the face of the coal or material tobe cut or operated upon. In making the initial cut the cutter bar may bemoved to operative position at any desired angle with respect to the'track. In case it is desiredto have the cutter barswing upon its pivotduring the operation of the cutting chain mechanism the clutch member126 is moved into engagement with the clutch member 125 on the gearwheel 124, thereby causing the main driving shaft 39 to be operativelyconnected with the cutting chain mechanism, so as to operate the latter;and the pawl 141 on the pawl-operating lever 140 is adjusted to theposition shown in Fig. 6, so that the reciprocation of the pawloperatinglever 140 will cause the worm shaft 132 to rotate in the directionnecessary to move the cutter bar on its pivot in the direction necessaryto hold the cutting chain mechanism in cutting position and feed thecutter bar and chain mechanism to ward the material to be operated upon.In case the cutter bar is to be swung and the cutting mechanism operatedas suggested without moving the main frame longitudinally of the track,it is only necessary to leave the clutch members 59 and 59 in theirintermediate or clutch releasing position. In case the main frame is tobe moved along longitudinally of the track, the clutch member 59, orelse the clutch member 59' is moved into clutching position, accordingto the direction the main frame is to be moved. The main frame is thusadapted to be automatically moved along longitudinally with respect tothe track while the cutter arm is in any desired position into which itis adapted to be adjusted, or at any desired angle with respect to thetrack, and while the cutter mechanism is in operation. \Vhen the mainframe has thus been fed longitudinally of the track from one end to theother of the track and it is found desirable to move the track toanother position with respect to the main frame and with respect to theface of the coal or material to be operated upon, the cutter bar may besecured in stationary position together with the main frame, by means ofjacks adapted to engage the main frame and the ceiling or wall or otherabutment, and the clutch member 126 and pawl 141 are moved to releasingor inoperative position. The main driving shaft is then set in operationby being operatively connected with the motor or source of power, andthe required one of the clutch members 59, 59' moved into clutchingengagement with the adjacent gear wheel 56 or 57 as the case may be,according to the direction in which the track is to be moved. Theoperation of the main driving shaft will thus cause the track to bemoved endwise beneath the main frame while the latter is stationary, andwhen the track has thus been moved to the desired position, the mainframe is permitted to again move alon' the track during the operation ofthe cutting mechanism, the jacks being removed from engagement with themain frame so as to permit such movement of the When the opposite sideor extremity of the 5 face of the coal or material is approached orreached and it is desired to stop the movement of the main frame uponthe track and to continue the operation of the cutting chain mechanismwith the cutter bar in motion upon its axis the clutch members 59 and 59are both moved to their intermediate or clutch-releasing position, andthe clutch member 126 on the main driving shaft, and the pawl member 141on the reciprocating lever 140 are retained in or moved into operativeposition, so as to cause the cutting chain mechanism to be operatedsimultaneously with or during the swinging of the cutter arm upon itsvertical pivot.

It is obvious that the main frame is adapted to be fed longitudinally ofthe track while the cutter bar is in parallel re lation to the track orin position to extend endwise beyond the adjacent end of the track ateither extremity thereof, or while the cutter bar is in position toextend at any desired angle with respect to the track and with respectto the path of movement 0 of the main frame, as already suggested.

I claim 1. In a mining machine, the combination of a portable track, amain frame supported upon and movable longitudinally of the track, acutter bar mounted on the main 0' of a portable track,

frame, a cutting chain supported by the cutter bar, a non-rotative mainfeed screw mounted in fixed relation to the track, threaded nutmechanism rotatively mounted on the main frame and in threadedengagement with said main feed screw, a main drive shaft rotativelymounted in the main frame and adapted to be operatively connected with asource of power and with said cutting chain, for driving the latter,means shaft i th said threaded nut mechanism, for moving the main framewith respect to the main feed screw and track, reversible gear 3mechanism upon the main frame and con- 5 and means for changing thedirection of rotation of said threaded nut mechanism with respect to thedirection of rotation of the main drive shaft.

2. In a mining machine, the combination a main frame supported upon andmovable longitudinally of the track, a cutter bar pivotally mounted onthe main frame, a cutting chain supported by the cutter bar, meansforoperating the cut- Q ter bar upon its axis, a non-rotative main foroperatively connecting said main drive feed screw mounted in fixedrelation to the track, th 'eaded nut mechanism mounted on the main frameand in threaded engagement with said main feed screw, a main drive shaftrotatively mounted in the main frame and operatively connected with asource of power and with said cutting chain mechanism for driving thesame, means for operatively connecting said main drive shaft with saidthreaded nut mechanism, for moving the main frame with respect to themain 'feed screw and track, cutter bar operating means comprising pawland ratchet mechanism operatively connected with said last mentionedconnecting means and with the cutter bar, for operating the same, andmeans for changing the direction of rotation of said threaded nutmechanism with respectto the direction of rotation of the main driveshaft.

3. In a mining machine, the combination of a portable track, a mainframe supported in movable relation to the track, a cutter bar mountedon the main frame, a cutting chain supported by the cutter bar, anon-rotative main feed screw mounted in fixed relation to the track,threaded nut mechanism rotatively mounted on the main frame and inthreaded engagement with said main feed screw, a main drive shaftrotatively mounted in the main frame and operatively con? nected with asource of power and with said cutting chain, for driving the same, meansfor operatively connecting said main drive shaft with said threaded nutmechanism, cutter bar operating means comprising pawl and ratchetmechanism operatively connected with said last-mentioned connectingmeans and with the cutter bar, for operating the same, means forreversing the direction of rotation of the main drive shaft, and meansfor changing the direction of rotation of said threaded nut mechanismuponthe main feed screw.

4. In a mining machineflthe combination of a portable track, a mainframe supported in movable relation to the track, a cutter bar mountedon the main frame, a cutting chain supported by the cutter bar, anon-rotative main feed screw mounted in fixed relation to the track,threaded nut. mechanism rota tively mounted on the mainframe and inthreaded engagement with said main feed screw, a main drive shaftrotatively mounted in the main frame and operatively connected with asource of power and with said cutting chain, for driving the same, meansfor operatively connecting said main drive shaft with said threaded nutmechanism, cutter bar operating means comprising pawl and ratchetmechanism operatively connected with said last-mentioned connectingmeans and with the cutter bar, for operating the same, means fordisconnecting the main drive shaft from the cutting chain, and

means for changing the direction of rotation of said threaded the mainfeed screw.

5. In a mining machine, the combination of a track member, a main framemounted in movable relation to the track member, a cutter bar supportedby the main frame, cutting cham mechanism upon the cutter bar, a maindriving shaft rotativelv mounted in the main frame and operativelyconnected with a source of power, a threaded main feed screw fixed tothe track member, threaded nut mechanism mounted on the main frame andin threaded engagement with said main feed screw, means for operativelyconnecting the threaded nut mechanism with the main driving shaft, forenabling the main frame and the track member to be moved relatively toeach other, cutter bar operating means comprising pawl and ratchetmechanism operatively connected with said last-mentioned connectingmeans and with the cutter bar, for operating the same, means for operatively connectin the cutting chain mechanism with the main drivingshaft, and means for reversing the direction of rotation of the nutmechanism, to change the direction of movement of the main frame andtrack relatively to each other.

In a mining machine,'the combination of a track member, a main framesupported upon and movable longitudinally of the track member, cuttingmechanism supported by and movable with the main frame, a main drivingshaft rotatively mounted in the main nut mechanism upon.

frame and operatively connected with the cutting mechanism, a main feedscrew, means for yieldably securing the main feed screw in normallynon-rotative engagement with the track member, and adapted to releaseand permit the rotation of the main feed screw when the latter issubjected to excessive stresses and strains, a nut member rotativelymounted on the main frame and in toothed engagement with said normallynon-rotative main feed screw, and means for operatively connecting themain driving shaft with said nut member.

7. In a mining machine, the combination of a track member, a main framesupported upon and movable longitudinally of the track, cuttingmechanism supported and movable with the main frame, means for operatingthe cutting mechanism, a main feed screw, securin means acting to securesaid feed screw in normal non-rotative engagement with the track member,said securing means being adapted to automatically release and permitthe rotation of said feed screw when the latter is subjected toeXcessive strains. a nut member rotatively m0unted on the main frame andin toothed engagement with said normally non-rotative main feed screw,and means for rotating said nut member.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, July 6, 1916.

bit W Ali-D N. MIUrI-IELL. Witnesses:

HARRY InwIN CRoMER, DAVID H. FLETCHER.

